Quotes from our Spain trip

So while going through some notebooks and such I came across my school notes from the classes I took in Spain, and in the back of the notebook I found our quote list! ;) It's too bad we started the list somewhere in the middle of the trip, because there was some funny stuff!!

1. POR CASUALIDAD (Por Cathualidad)
2. I need ice cubes on my eyeballs! - Rachel
3. God I hate Buff State with my whole being. - Melissa
4. Lady, get OFF ME!! ... Her armpit was on my FACE!
5. My eyelids are peeling!! - Rachel
6. How long is a gestation for a goldfish? - Melissa
7. NO JÁMON! - Mary (And everyone else)
8. Adrienne: I wanna go out.
   Mary: I want a yogurt.
   Adrienne: How are we friends?!
9. I think I have the flu... - Mary
10. I'm eating flowers right now. There are LILLIES in my mouth. - Mary

More accent phrases:
- influencia francesca = influenthia franthethca
- entonces = entontheth


And some quotes from the rest of Melissa and I's adventure:
- You're drowning in a sheet of weirdness!
- I have so many croissants in here I can't even close my purse. - Melissa
- You know you're in Paris when you have a cheese sandwich, 2 croissants, and 3 packets of nutella in your purse.
- I'm sick of being thirsty! I've been thirsty for six weeks!!! - Melissa
- Are you guys Canadian? (girl in hostel in Venice)
- WAIT! I'M NOT DONE BEING UN-AWKWARD YET!!!


(I'm laughing out loud right now. Such good memories!!!)

10 Ways to Get a Fresh Mindset in the New Year

I know New Year's is a little behind us, but I wanted to make a New Year's post anyway, so, Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy 2013. Check out this cool video of the fireworks in Melbourne, reversed!! Take a minute and relax. (Thanks Pinterest)

Do you not feel like this year is going to be any different? Here are some suggestions for changing things up and getting a fresh start and fresh mindset for this year (or any new year).

1. Start a journal. (Barnes & Noble has the best journals in my opinion!)

2. Make a list of New Year's Resolutions or Goals for 2013. For me, these are two separate lists. And my advice is, tape your goals (or resolutions) somewhere that you will see them everyday and be reminded of them. i.e. next to your bed, somewhere in a bathroom or cabinet, etc.

3. Switch your room around. If you can't switch your room around because of size, just change up what you can! Rearrange things on a shelf or your dresser, move a lamp, switch your lampshades, anything.

5. Start a year Bible plan. I recommend a chronological one. Click here to find a plan, or Google your own, and print it out.

6. Make a Bucket List.

7. Put an item or two from your bucket list in your resolutions for this year. Try new things!!

8. Learn a new hairdo or style.

9. Clean out your closet - donate your clothes or take them to a consignment shop and earn cash! New Life Consignment is a great one :) Use your earned cash to buy a few new items and update your wardrobe.

10. Clean out any drawers, boxes, clothes - PURGE!

Can you tell what I've been up to this week? Haha, well, besides reading the Hunger Games, I've moved some things in my room around and have been cleaning out drawers, re-organizing, cleaning and dusting... Walking into a changed room feels so refreshing! If you have the time, give it a try.

Happy New Year!

Fetching.

Talk Happiness

 Talk happiness. The world is sad enough

without your woe. No path is wholly rough;
Look for the places that are smooth and clear,
And speak of those, to rest the weary ear
Of earth, so hurt by one continuous strain
Of human discontent and grief and pain.

Talk faith. The world is better off without
Your uttered ignorance and morbid doubt.
If you have faith in God, or man, or self,
Say so. If not, push back upon the shelf
Of silence, all your thought, till faith come:
No one will grieve because your lips are dumb.

Talk health. The dreary, never-ending talk
Of mortal maladies is more that stale.
One cannot charm, or interest, or please
By harping on that minor chord, disease.
Say you are well, or all is well with you,
And God shall hear your words and make them true.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. ~ Proverbs 25:11

Honoring Heroes

"Every American soldier killed in war is a fallen hero, and deserves both the nation's thanks and a 'Hero's Welcome'. That's what the 'Flagman' Larry Eckhardt believes, and wait until you see what he does about it. Steve Hartman reports from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, the home of U.S. Army Pvt. FC, Dustin Gross, who was killed by a roadside bomb earlier this month in Afghanistan."

 “Turns out when you line a country road like a hero’s coming, he gets treated like one. People drop what they’re doing. Flags beget flags… one family’s loss is shouldered by an entire community.”

Laughter: The Best Medicine

I wanted to share some notes on laughter that I received at a ladies prayer meeting a few months ago. It really is healthy for you!!

[Please excuse the poor scanning quality. I didn't feel like re-typing it in.]

Smile! Laugh! It's good for you :D

[Need a good laugh? Watch an episode of Fresh Prince. You will laugh. Guaranteed.]

My space

I got a new summer coverlet and I just love it :) I just felt like posting some pics of my room. Not the whole thing though... that's just weird.

My cozy little niche

The only item I purchased in Paris - painted along the Seine River :)

Fan purchased in Madrid, Spain

Chinese umbrella lampshade purchased on Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, MA

We all know where this is from ;)

Painted my old fan white and then my sis painted this lovely design that you see :)

Duelling piano bookends - purchased online